Divider package



Jan. 2, 1962 A. A. MORlCI 3,015,429

DIVIDER PACKAGE Filed March 18, 1959 F/6../

INVENTOR. ALFRED A. MOR/C/ ECKHOFF & SLICK ATTO NEV A MEMBER 0 THE F/RM United States Patent 3,015,429 DIVIDER PACKAGE Alfred A. Morici, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Contadina Foods, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 800,322 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-) This invention relates to a package and more particularly relates to a food package wherein two difi'erent types of food, such as a dry powder and a liquid, can be stored and sold in a single package.

At the present time, various mixes are very popular with the purchasing public. Such mixes require a minimum of preparation time and are much more convenient for the user, since it is not necessary to purchase quantities of the individual ingredients. However, a problem has existed when some of the ingredients of a mix of a liquid or semi-liquid nature and the balance of the ingredients are of a solid nature. Various attempts have been made to solve this problem, such as by merely fastening two containers together which contain different types of materials. However, such containers are expensive, do not lend themselves to a neat, unitary package, and are difiicult to open.

An object of the present invention is to provide a unitary package which is adapted for storing at least two diverse types of food.

Another object of this invention is to provide a package for storing two types of food wherein the two types will not become intermingled.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a food package which is easy to open.

Other objects will become apparent from the balance of the specification.

In the drawing forming a part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the package of the present invention, showing the manner in which the package is assembled.

FIGURE 2 is a side view, partly in section, of a package embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the package of the present invention in the process of being opened.

In the description of the invention which follows, it is assumed that the package is to be used for a pizza mix wherein the dry ingredients consist of a prepared flour mixture suitable for making pizza, while the upper portion of the container contains a pizza sauce which is of a semi-liquid consistency. The package also contains a small envelope of prepared dry yeast. However, it must be noted that in the description, the mention of pizza mix is only for the purpose of showing one typical application of the package of the present invention, and the solid portion might be any type of food, such as rice, macaroni, a cake mix, or the like, while the upper container might contain any food which would ordinarily be used therewith, such as a sauce, filling of frosting.

Turning now to a description of the drawing by reference characters, there is shown a package, generally designated 5, which has a lower tubular member 7 and an upper tubular member 9. The tubular members 7 and 9 are of the same diameter and fit together to form a unitary package, and each has an end closure, designated respectively 11 and 13, while the opposite ends are open. Preferably, the tubular members 7 and 9 are made of cardboard, while the end closures 11 and 13 are made of thin sheet metal, although any conventional packaging materials may be used. A cardboard separator 15 is provided which preferably has an upturned edge 17 thereon, the size of the separator being such that it fits snugly into the tubular member 7. A conventional can 18 is provided which is of somewhat smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the upper tubular member 9.

Patented Jan. 2, 1962 ice The can 18 is of entirely conventional construction and is adapted to keep a product, such as a sauce, in a hermetically sealed condition. If desired, one or more additional packages may be inserted inthe container, such as the fiat foil package 20 of powdered dry yeast.

To assemble the container, the dry ingredient such as prepared flour, 19, is first placed in the lower tubular member 7. The separator 15 is then pushed into the member 7, as is shown, to provide a cover for the dry ingredient. Normally, the top of the rim 17 would be slightly below the top of the lower tubular member 7. If a package such as 20 is used, it is then placed on top of the separator 15. The can 18 is then placed over the separator and package, and the upper tubular member 9 is placed over the can 18 and in alignment with the lower tubular member 7, forming a package having straight side walls. A paper wrapper 21, having suitable indicia thereon, is then wrapped around and fastened thereto, as by pasting, forming the complete package. The wrapper 21 serves both as a label for the package as well as the means for holding the upper and lower parts of the container together. Although not essential, the wrapper 21 preferably has thereon some indicia such as the line 23, which indicates the line at which the upper and lower members 7 and 9 are joined.

To open the container, it is only necessary to press on the container at any point of the periphery adjacent the line 23,'whereupon the relatively weak wrapper 21 will be ruptured, allowing the members 7 and 9 to be pulled apart as is shown in FIGURE 3.

Since the can 18 is considerably smaller in diameter than the inside of the upper member 9, a space 25 is left between the outside of the can 18 and the inner wall of the upper member 9, so that one can readily distort the container in order to tear the wrapper 21.

In the conventional type of packaging now being used the usual operation is to insert the flour into' a separate bag which is one operation and then to insert this bag in the master container. The present invention eliminates this by inserting the flour directly into the paper carton which is an additional saving in material and in handling costs.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a new and useful container and one which is particularly adapted for storing and selling two diverse types of foods.

I claim:

In combination, a first tubular container having an open top and a closed bottom; a second tubular member of a diameter identical to that of the said first tubular member and being formed of a resilient material of a thickness identical to that of the said material from which the said first tubular member is formed, said second tubular member having an open bottom and a closed top, said second tubular member having the open bottom thereof abutting the open top of the said first tubular member and being supported by said first tubular memproduct; and a removable separator consisting of a flat disc of approximately the same area as the area of the circle circumscribed by the said tubular members, said flat disc having an upstanding flange about the periphery her, the said flange on the said disc describing a circle of.

sufficient diameter to permit an end of the said hermetically sealed can to fitw entirely within said-flange whereby said hermetically sealed container is directly in Contact with said fiat disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Quinlan July 13, Cole July 28, March, Feb, 8, Houghton Apr. 26, Woods Dec. 6, Heise Aug. 20, Graves .d Mar. 23, Belsinger Sept. 25, Zoeller et a1 Aug. 16, 

